Teachers urge board to restore planning time after calendar change; superintendent defends move to protect instructional minutes

Teachers and parents told the King George County School Board on multiple occasions that a recent calendar change—converting one teacher workday and several half days into student instructional days—was announced without adequate notice and removes planning and professional development time teachers say they need.

Teachers said the change came after a special board meeting held on short notice and that the emailed explanations they later received felt dismissive. “My questions and concerns were never addressed by the superintendent or the chairperson,” said Candace Pultz, a first-grade teacher at Potomac Elementary. Pultz said the change required teachers to prepare packets at the last minute, reduced planning time, and placed additional…